Not only is Athens home to a renowned University, classic restaurants, edgy bars and legendary bands, but it is also home to the largest student mentor program in the state.

The Clarke County Mentor Program is a successful grassroots program that has been steadily growing for more than 18 years.

Trudy Bradley, director of the program, said despite the program’s initial hesitation to tap into college students as potential mentors, she now know they make great mentors.

“College students bring a different aspect to mentoring,” Bradley said. “The closeness in age results in a special kind of connection in that they know how each other thinks and feels. I have been involved in this for a while and I know how much of a rewarding and learning experience it is for students.”

The partnership between the Athens-Clarke County school district and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce started in 1991 with 30 hand-picked mentors in seven schools throughout the county.

As of the end of last spring, there were 984 mentors signed up with the Clarke County Mentor Program in all of the county’s public schools.

“We could use 1,000 more,” Bradley said.

After five years of continuous success, the Athens-Clarke County school district decided to dedicate an annual sum of money to the program.

Other funding for the program is raised through grants and individual contributions, among other things.

The non-profit organization provides individual attention and support to youth throughout the county while seeking to combat rising dropout rates in public schools.

The program provides mentors to students in all grades – kindergarten through seniors in high school.

Megan Korngold, a University senior from Cumming, said that a listening ear for her mentee is one of her favorite roles as a mentor.

“I am able to aid her ability to prosper in both life and school,” Korngold said of the student she mentors. “Not only have I affected her life, she has also affected mine.”

Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to become a mentor in the program. After submitting an application, the potential mentor must pass a police background check and attend a mandatory two-hour orientation session.

The schools then match the mentor with a student who has a personality and interests compatible to their own.

The only thing the program asks is that mentors make a one-year commitment and spend at least one hour each week with their mentee.

Commitment to the program and the mentee are the primary concerns of the Clarke County Mentor Program.

Despite the program’s success, Bradley said, they are always in need of more mentors.

“Our oldest mentor is 85,” she said. “There is a place for everybody to fit in.”

For more information on how to become a mentor, contact Bradley at 706-353-2288.